Comparison of the extent of tooth preparation for prosthetic crowns by students and doctors

<p>Introduction: Proper preparing of the tooth is essential in order to obtain adequate space for a prosthetic crown. This allows us to obtain an aesthetic and durable crown, without losing much hard dental tissue.</p><p><br /></p><p>Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the extent of tooth preparation for prosthetic crowns performed by students and doctors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Method: The study was conducted on 120 phantom teeth. Sixty molar teeth were prepared for porcelain‑fused‑to‑metal crowns. Of this number, 30 teeth were prepared by students and 30 by dentists. Sixty incisors were prepared for all-ceramic crowns; 30 each by both groups. In each case, the extent of preparation of the occlusal surface/incisal edge, the depth of the finish lines and the convergence angle of axial walls were measured.</p><p><br /></p><p>Results: The doctors inadequately reduced groove of the molars for porcelain‑fused‑to‑ metal crowns by 69% compared to normal values. The students prepared the entire occlusal surface of the molars insufficiently. The finish line on the buccal surface of the molars prepared by the dentists and students was too small by 44% and the inclination of the axial walls was too high. In contrast, both the groups adequately reduced the incisal edge of incisors for all-ceramic crowns and the convergence angle of the axial walls was correct.</p><p><br /></p><p>Conclusions: The dentists prepared the molars for porcelain‑fused‑to‑metal crowns more aggressively than the students, but both the groups prepared them inconsistently with the pattern. In contrast, anterior teeth were correctly prepared for all-ceramic crowns, regardless of experience</p>